Softball's Moore Enjoys a Summer Down Under

Junior pitcher Julia Moore spent the summer in Australia,
taking classes, attending sporting events and learning about the
culture down under (Julia Moore).

When I look back at my summer, it seems unreal that I spent six
weeks exploring Australia. My trip began with enrolling in two
classes through the Boston University Sydney Program and ended with
adventures I didn’t even know were possible. My experience
studying abroad “down under” was worthwhile and one of
the greatest encounters of my
life.

One of the main reasons I chose the Sydney program over other
programs were the course options. The first class I took was on
entertainment promotion and offered me an opportunity to explore
the business side of entertainment and particularly how to promote
sporting events, movie premieres, concerts, and television
programs. The second class was on cinema in Australia and was
enforced by attendance at The Sydney Film Festival. We were each
given a pass to see 22 movies over the course of two weeks. At
first I thought this meant way too much time sitting in theaters,
but I found that many of the movies were the best I’ve ever
seen and will soon be premiering in the U.S. In addition to
attending the festival films, we got VIP tickets to the opening
night and closing night. I got to walk the red carpet, enter VIP
rooms, see all the Australian stars surrounded by paparazzi, and
attend all the evening’s events. Both of my classes were
taught by amazing professors and guest speakers from related fields
and the credit I received through the program will transfer back to
Harvard, giving me more room in my schedule to take other classes
in Cambridge.

I was certain to make the most of my time in Sydney by exploring
the culturally diverse city. I attended a performance at the Sydney
Opera House, climbed to the top of the Sydney Harbor Bridge,
shopped my way through the streets and the weekend markets, and
went to wildlife facilities where I got to hold koalas, pet
kangaroos, and feed Tasmanian devils. I used my weekends and
holidays to travel beyond Sydney. I explored the scenic Blue
Mountains, toured the alleys and laneways of Melbourne, snorkeled
at the Great Barrier Reef, and skydived from 14,000 feet over the
vast Australian land.

While softball was nowhere to be found in Sydney, I did immerse
myself in sports. Sydney hosted one of seven World Cup FIFA
Fan Fests and projected all of the games live on giant floating
screens on the harbor. Because of the time difference, the games
were at 9:30 p.m., midnight, and 4:30 a.m., but enthusiastic fans
came out to cheer on their teams and to celebrate despite the
times. I also attended a National Rugby Union match in one of
the famous stadiums and watched the Wallabies take on England. For
my personal fitness, I found time to work out at a small gym
conveniently located across from my lodging. However, I had to
leave my softball glove at home knowing that there would be no one
to pitch to in Australia.

I’m returning to Harvard this fall with a greater
appreciation of the confluence of cultures and economies in the
global arena. I experienced more similarities between the U.S. and
Australia than differences. My biggest challenges were adjusting to
the time difference, the reversal of seasons, and the slight
nuances of the language. However, Aussie hospitality, laid-back
attitude, and unique sense of humor made it easy to immerse myself
into the culture. The classes I took were meaningful and
informative, but it was the experiential learning which made
studying abroad a not-to-be-missed opportunity. I feel extremely
fortunate to have had the chance as a college athlete to travel
abroad. I know that one day I will return to Australia for more
adventures, but in the mean time, my eyes are set on the 2011 Ivy
Title!